Naval Air Systems Command Range Department leadership presented the Ranger of the Year Award to Chris Coster, and the Range Team of the Year Award to members of the Air Vehicle Modification and Instrumentation Department’s Integrated Flight Test Solutions (IFTS) Branch supporting the H-60 FLIR Video Data Link project during a ceremony at NAWCWD China Lake on July 18.

Capt. Aaron Cudnohufsky, military director for NAVAIR Ranges, was at China Lake to present the Range awards along with Airborne Instrumentation Systems Division length of service awards. Terry Clark, director of NAVAIR Ranges, joined the ceremony via video teleconference (VTC) from Patuxent River. Point Mugu also participated by VTC.

Members of IFTS supporting the H-60 FLIR Video Data Link project were Chris Melendez, Chris Coster, JD Zipp, Britt Wheatley, Rob Keathley, Bill Gormley, Mike Abdi, Sam Schoenhals, and Ricky Howell, who passed away in June. Howell’s wife and son accepted the award on his behalf. Cudnohufsky also presented the Howells a letter of appreciation signed by Rear Adm. Mat Winter, former NAWCWD commander.

“This team has done some very cool and important stuff for the fleet,” said Barry Douglas, head of the NAWCWD Direct Fleet Support Office.

Douglas recalled what the team accomplished to earn this award.

“I got a call on a Monday requesting three modified helicopters be onboard a ship in the Persian Gulf by the following weekend,” Douglas said. “I called Ricky and he said, ‘you want it, you got it.’ By Friday, these guys were on a plane half way around the world to modify the helicopters.”

The modifications provided much-needed full-motion video that could be distributed from the helicopters throughout the ship and improved fleet commanders’ situational awareness.

“It gives them the ability to make more informed decisions,” Douglas said. “That is huge.”

Douglas shared testimonials that he has received from fleet users of the system. A carrier strike group commander said, “There should never be a United States ship going through any straits without this capability; it’s my number one priority.”

The commanding officer of a squadron using this NAWCWD-generated capability said, “This has worked every time we turned it on. As far as the ship is concerned and as far as we are concerned, it’s been phenomenal.”

A combat systems officer confirmed the system’s capabilities and said, “The install was seamless. Everything works perfectly. It’s been a tremendous help. The strike group loves it and the ship loves it.”

An air wing commander said, “You’ve given me the equivalent of Sidewinder – a game changer.”

“I could not be more proud of this team,” Douglas said.

In addition to being part of the award-winning H-60 FLIR Video Data Link project, Coster earned the Ranger of the Year Award for being an instrumental part of executing biofuel testing on the AV-8B Harrier. He also played a critical role in testing the Italian AV-8B and getting it carrier certified.

“The work you all do is so important,” Cudnohufsky said. “You do make a difference in the fleet.”